Those wishing to maximize their brainpower will be enthralled by Dr. Edel Alonso’s scholarly presentation regarding “The Brain, Learning and Study Skills” taking place at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 21, in the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center at College of the Canyons.

“This presentation is about how the brain works to process information through different stages in storing information as memory, and the study strategies that support and enhance this process,” said Alonso, who has served as a counselor and counseling faculty at COC for 16 years.

Included in the presentation will be information on sensory memory, working memory, long-term memory, metacognition, the structure of the brain and much more.

“It’s a talk that will benefit persons of all ages who want optimum brain and memory capacity,” added Alonso.

Since the rise of medical imaging technology in the 1990s, the function of the brain during the learning cycle has been studied in earnest by neuroscientists and cognitive and educational psychologists.

Working with these innovations has allowed professionals to look at language, memory, learning and problem solving with a new lens — which could lead to many breakthroughs for students struggling to score highly in classes despite long study hours and focused commitment.

“I have been a teacher and a counselor for a very long time, and throughout my career have developed an interest in the science of learning,” Alonso said. “Mainly because too often I’ve heard students express their frustration over why they aren’t earning better grades.”

More about the presenter

Dr. Edel Alonso has excelled in a variety of fields during her career as an educator.

Born in Havana, Cuba, Alonso earned her bachelor’s degree in modern languages at Montclair State University in New Jersey.

Following her time on the east coast Alonso went on to earn her master’s degree in counseling from Loyola Marymount University. She then received her doctoral in education from the University of La Verne.

At the high school level, Alonso has instructed students in Spanish, French and English as a Second Language, and served as a counselor for many years in the William S. Hart Union High School District as well as inner city Los Angeles.

At College of the Canyons, she has served as a counselor to students from the Mathematic Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) program since its inception.

In the classroom, Alonso has also taught graduate students pursuing master’s degrees in counseling at the University of La Verne.

Alonso helped develop the curriculum and teach the college’s COUNS 142 “Learning to Learn” course, which also explores how the brain works while teaching strategies designed to optimize the learning process.

For more information about the College of the Canyons Scholarly Presentation “The Brain, Learning and Study Skills” contact the COC Foundation at (661) 362-3434.